Re: Ranged weapon reload times
The clockwork setting is a natural for crossbows -- but they'd be super keen crossbows and I'd give them the same rate of fire as the longarms, because a magical/steamy clockwork windlass/cocking mechanism would make them faster. Then I'd just scale the damage. If people are running around in Silly Iron Suits™ then I'd give crossbows Armor Piercing and Penetrating/AP on the guns. That's assuming you want to simulate what guns will do versus Crossbows. It's not perfect, but it beats a guy in 8 PD plate bouncing bullets and quarrels.
That may be farther afield than you wanted to go, but there it is!